Europe

Even the manageress of the meeting hall was so enthused by the SAV
(Sozialistische Alternative) conference that she made a €50 donation and
wished the conference’s 130 participants, from 22 parts of the country,
much success and energy. Between 22 and 24 January, branch delegates and
members discussed the significance of the world economic crisis, its
effects and the politics and perspectives to build the SAV.

Five resolutions were adopted unanimously after lively debates. At the
same time a new national committee and other bodies were elected. The
target for the financial appeal was exceeded, with €11,100 collected and
the SAV bookstall reaching record sales of €1,265. In many ways, this
was undoubtedly the most successful SAV national conference for some
time.

Successful SAV conference

The conference began with an introduction by Robert Bechert, a
representative of the International Secretariat of the CWI, to a
discussion on the world economic crisis and its effects on the
international situation. Bechert emphasised that this crisis has opened
a new period for capitalism, which will be characterised by sharp class
polarisation and struggles. In the discussion, different speakers
supplemented his remarks with contributions on different countries.
Nihat Boyraz from Bremen spoke about the strike of the TEKEL workers in
Turkey and Lucy Redler on the revolutionary events in Iran.

Sascha Stanicic, national spokesperson of SAV, then introduced the
discussion on the situation in Germany, in which the development of
consciousness among the working class and youth, as well as the outlook
for Die Linke, was focused upon. Stanicic predicted strong
radicalisation among working people. He based this on surveys, showing
that currently 25% of the population can be classified as critics of the
system and 20% are prepared to become active to change something.
According to Stanicic, this represents potential to build a socialist
workers’ movement and the SAV.

Part of the discussion was a controversial debate on the question of how
to intervene in the debate in Die Linke, the Left party, over
participating in government. While a resolution from a Berlin branch
proposed participation in this debate by fighting for the sharpest
possible minimum conditions for participation, the Conference decided by
a large majority that government coalitions with pro-capitalist parties
implementing social cuts should be rejected on principle, because they
cannot lead to the application of any policies in the interests of the
working class. That’s why the SAV itself is not arguing for its own set
of minimum conditions for government participation to be accepted by Die
Linke, as many other left forces in Die Linke do. This method would
imply that a coalition with the SPD (Social Democratic Party) and the
Greens is a possibility. Die Linke must stand on the side of social
resistance, and not rely on administering capitalist misery. This is
what SAV members in the Die Linke argue for.

Workplaces, trade unions and youth

Special attention was given to the importance of the work of SAV members
in workplaces and trade unions at the conference. Ursel Beck, industrial
organiser of SAV, living in Stuttgart, introduced the debate. In this
discussion, Daimler Works Council member, Mustafa Efe, from Berlin,
reported about the building of an alternative opposition members’ group
in IG Metall, Germany’s metal workers’ union. Carsten Becker, chair of
the Works Council at the Charité in Berlin, Germany’s largest hospital,
spoke, as did a number of other active trade union activists from
hospitals, the telecoms industry, the GEW (teachers’ union) and IG Bau,
the construction workers’ union.

However, the highlight of the conference was certainly the discussion
about the SAV’s campaign work amongst youth. The youngest present SAV
member was thirteen years old and the high number of young members
present was generally striking. They reported, among other things, about
their activities in Linksjugend [’solid], the youth organisation of Die
Linke. Ongoo, from Berlin Neukölln, reported on the campaign “Youth for
jobs, education, and apprenticeships”, which was launched, together with
the youth of DIDF, an organisation of migrant workers, and the youth
organisation of the GEW (teachers’ union) in Berlin.

Also, the mobilisation for the anti-fascist demonstration and blockade
against the 13 February Nazi march in Dresden, played an important role
in the discussions.

Messages of greetings were given to the conference from the
Bildungsgemeinschaft SALZ (a left wing educational project), and the
SAV’s CWI sister organisations in Italy, Ireland, France, Sweden and
Kashmir.

The conference was concluded with a report on the work of the Committee
for a Workers’ International, which - among other things – pointed to
the many new countries, in which the CWI - in the last one or two years
– has established new groups and begun organised activities. These
included Argentina, Malaysia, Iceland, Lebanon, Malaysia and Quebec.

All in all, it was a very successful conference. All participants went
back home with a firm will to intensify the struggle for workers’
rights, against capitalism and for socialism, in Germany and
internationally.